Crop Insurance

HARRISBURG - Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff reminded Pennsylvania farmers today to finalize crop insurance decisions for 2007 spring-planted crops by the Thursday, March 15, deadline. In response to current high prices being paid for crops, increased protection is available to Pennsylvania farmers, he said. "Crop insurance can also work as part of a seamless package with pre-harvest crop marketing programs that can help to increase profits in good years," Wolff said. For more information on Pennsylvania's crop insurance program and other risk management opportunities, call 717-787-6041 or visit www.agriculture.

The Raleigh Regional Office of the USDA Risk Management Agency issued a reminder to Maryland farmers that Sept. 30 is the final date to obtain crop insurance on forage production. It said current forage production policyholders also have until Sept. 30 to make any changes to existing contracts. The insurance covers pure alfalfa, alfalfa and perennial grasses, and mixed alfalfa and perennial grasses. The price election for the 2006 crop year is $145 per ton. The agency said farmers should contact a local crop insurance agent as soon as possible for premium quotes and other details.

HARRISBURG - Farmers in Pennsylvania will receive a total of $1 million in state aid for their 2006 crop insurance premiums, said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. "Crop insurance is an important tool for protecting Pennsylvania's farmers," said Wolff. "Adverse weather can ruin a growing season, so it is essential that farmers have a way to rebound financially and start preparing for the next year," he said. The money is provided through the Pennsylvania Crop Insurance Assistance Program, a partnership between the General Assembly, USDA, crop insurance industry, farmers and the Department of Agriculture.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff urges Pennsylvania farmers to finalize crop insurance decisions for 2008 spring-planted crops by the March 17 deadline. "Crop insurance is an indispensable tool for protecting Pennsylvania agriculture," Wolff said. "Crop price instability, the rising cost of production and adverse weather can damage a farmer's bottom line, making it essential that they have a way to recover financially and start preparing for the next growing season.

McConnellsburg, Pa. ? John K. Johnston, county executive director for USDA's Farm Service Agency in Fulton County, announced that producers have until Sept. 30 to enroll or modify their current crop insurance protection choices on fall-seeded wheat and barley and forage production for 2006. For barley and wheat protection, producers can choose from 50 to 85 percent of their actual production history. When production ? after adjusted for poor quality ? is less than the insurance guarantee, the payment rate is $2.35 or $3.50 per bushel, respectively.

ANNAPOLIS - Maryland farmers who have purchased federal crop insurance are reminded that crop damage from flooded fields from this past week's record-breaking rain are covered as it would be in the case of drought, the Maryland Department of Agriculture said. In a news release, the department gave tips "for getting the most out of your crop insurance in the coming weeks. " The tips are: Call your crop insurance agent and report what fields are flooded within 72 hours of discovery of loss or damage If you plan on plowing down the crop, have an adjustor evaluate the field before plowing.

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania farmers have until July 17 to file acreage reports for crop insurance with their insurance agent and county Farm Service Agency, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said. "Accurate reporting is necessary to ensure that farmers receive their insurance loss claims," Wolff said. "It's also important to keep a signed acreage report for their records. " There may be differences in the report requirements for the crop insurance agent and FSA. If so, a written explanation is required when submitting the reports.

Pa. crop insurance deadlines nearing HARRISBURG - Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said Pennsylvania farmers face two upcoming crop insurance deadlines. "This summer's dry weather, coupled with severe storms, has taken a toll on crops," Wolff said. "Farmers are encouraged to consider purchasing crop insurance. " The acreage reporting deadline is July 16 for all 2007 insured crops planted in the spring, other than small grains. Participating producers are required to file the reports with both their crop insurance agent and with their county Farm Service Agency.

HARRISBURG - One deadline has already passed, but Pennsylvania farmers can still receive an additional 15 percent reduction in their 2007 crop insurance premiums, state Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said. The deadline for the group risk forage program is Thursday, Nov. 30. The deadline for fruit crops passed Nov. 21. "This year, Governor Rendell and the General Assembly tripled the state's investment in crop insurance, now at $3 million," said Wolff. The 15 percent discount applies to all policies, after the federal discount, for any 2007 insurable crops grown in Pennsylvania, Wolff said.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- This is the time of year when farmers face multiple deadlines. They are harvesting their spring planted crops and, depending on the yield and revenue potential, they might need to consider the basics of how to report damage to their crop insurance agent. At the same time, they are also making their crop insurance decisions for fall planted crops. Sept. 30 is the deadline for producers to sign up for federally subsidized crop insurance coverage on fall-seeded crops like winter wheat, barley, oats and forage production.

During the next several months, the headlines will be dominated by the clamoring from inside the beltway as legislators grapple with how to dig us out of a deep economic hole. I doubt any program or spending will be left untouched. I have written in previous columns how federally supported agricultural programs have taken hits in the areas of research for the public good, and Extension education, where the knowledge of the land grant university system is disseminated to the public.

ANNAPOLIS - Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance reminds farmers who were unable to harvest spring-planted crops due to adverse weather to file a notice of crop damage with their crop insurance agent. Crop insurance policies require that notice of loss must be filed no later than 15 days after the calendar date for the end of the insurance period. In Maryland, Dec. 10 was the end of the insurance period for grain corn, grain sorghum and soybeans. That means farmers have until Friday to report losses.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- This is the time of year when farmers face multiple deadlines. They are harvesting their spring planted crops and, depending on the yield and revenue potential, they might need to consider the basics of how to report damage to their crop insurance agent. At the same time, they are also making their crop insurance decisions for fall planted crops. Sept. 30 is the deadline for producers to sign up for federally subsidized crop insurance coverage on fall-seeded crops like winter wheat, barley, oats and forage production.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Running a farm involves much more than planting crops and milking cows. "Farmers are basically business owners," said Bob Wevodau, an agriculture program specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency. The decisions they make can be complicated, especially under the federal Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, known as the farm bill. Wevodau and Mark Rose, of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, spoke about parts of the bill on Monday at the Maryland Cooperative Extension office on Sharpsburg Pike, south of Hagerstown.

Colleen Cashell, county executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Washington County, said producers who did not obtain crop insurance or Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage for 2008 can pay a buy-in fee through May 18 to become eligible for 2008 disaster assistance programs authorized by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. Producers who have not already taken the necessary steps to become eligible for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program, Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish, and the Tree Assistance Program are required to complete the following steps by May 18: o Pay a $100 "buy-in" fee per crop.

Colleen Cashell, executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Washington County said residents who would otherwise be ineligible for the disaster assistance programs available through the 2008 Farm Bill have only a few weeks left to pay a fee so they can become eligible. The buy-in fee is due no later than Sept. 16, 90 days after the date of enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill. "The 2008 Farm Bill requires producers who wish to participate in the new disaster programs to have crop insurance or noninsured crop disaster assistance (NAP)

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Farmers and agriculture officials on Monday continued to assess crop damage following a hail storm in the Middleway, W.Va., area Sunday. Hail shredded leaves on 40 acres of Larry Magaha's corn at the intersection of Middleway Pike and Darke Lane and Magaha said Monday he would probably have a better idea later in the week the extent of the damage. Magaha said he has crop insurance to protect against such damage and insurance officials are expected to examine the corn.

MIDDLEWAY, W.Va. -- Thousands of dollars worth of crops were destroyed Sunday afternoon when a storm throwing down penny-sized hail crossed through the center of Jefferson County, according to farmers and a National Weather Service spokeswoman. In the Middleway area, the storm left behind "drifts" of ice along Middleway Pike and shredded corn leaves hanging on stalks. "It ripped it up pretty good," said farmer Larry Magaha, who has 40 acres of corn near the intersection of Darke Lane and Middleway Pike, also known as W.Va.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov. Edward G. Rendell announced Pennsylvania's latest recommendations to Congress for the Farm Bill, a key piece of federal legislation that will guide agriculture and nutrition programs for the next five years. In a letter to Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation, Gov.Rendell said the state's top Farm Bill priority is support for its initiative to expand the renewable energy industry. Cellulosic ethanol and agricultural renewable energy production can produce 60,000 new jobs in the state, while reducing the U.S.'s dependence on foreign energy sources and negative environmental impacts.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff urges Pennsylvania farmers to finalize crop insurance decisions for 2008 spring-planted crops by the March 17 deadline. "Crop insurance is an indispensable tool for protecting Pennsylvania agriculture," Wolff said. "Crop price instability, the rising cost of production and adverse weather can damage a farmer's bottom line, making it essential that they have a way to recover financially and start preparing for the next growing season.